Waterslide with three-dimensional visual effects

ABSTRACT

Described herein is a waterslide that includes a sliding surface having a sliding path, and at least one object in the sliding path that includes a stereoscopic image thereon. The stereoscopic image appears three-dimensional when viewed by a user through a pair of three dimensional goggles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a children's waterslide and more particularly to a children's waterslide with three-dimensional visual effects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Waterslides that include a sliding surface covered with water have been a popular children's toy and recreation activity for years. However, there is always a need for improved toys that are more exciting for kids.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a waterslide that includes a sliding surface having a sliding path, and at least one object in the sliding path that includes a stereoscopic image thereon. The stereoscopic image appears three-dimensional when viewed by a user through a pair of three dimensional goggles. In a preferred embodiment, the waterslide includes a tunnel that spans at least a portion of the sliding surface. The tunnel has an opening therein through which the sliding path extends and the at least one object is a flap that hangs vertically from the tunnel.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method that includes the steps of providing a waterslide that includes a sliding surface having a sliding path and at least one object in the sliding path that includes a stereoscopic image thereon, wearing a pair of three dimensional goggles, sliding on the sliding path toward the at least one object, and viewing the stereoscopic image through the three dimensional goggles so that the stereoscopic image appears three-dimensional.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit that includes a pair of three dimensional goggles and a waterslide. The waterslide includes a sliding surface having a sliding path, an inflatable tunnel that spans the sliding path and a sprinkler tube associated with the sliding surface. The tunnel includes an interior through which the sliding path extends and a plurality of flaps that hang vertically from the tunnel and into the sliding path. The tunnel and the flaps include stereoscopic images thereon that appear three-dimensional when viewed through the pair of three dimensional goggles. The sprinkler tube is adapted to spray water from a water source onto the sliding surface.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description of the various embodiments and specific examples, while indicating preferred and other embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a waterslide with three-dimensional visual effects in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the waterslide of FIG. 1 showing the user wearing a pair of three dimensional goggles; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the waterslide of FIG. 1.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the present invention is directed to a waterslide with three-dimensional visual effects, generally indicated as 10. It will be understood that the three-dimensional effect is provided when the user of the waterslide wears a pair of two color or three dimensional goggles 12 and views the anaglyphic/stereoscopic images 22 a and 22 b on portions of the waterslide 10, as described more particularly below.

It will be appreciated that terms such as “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “above,” and “side” used herein are merely for ease of description and refer to the orientation of the components as shown in the figures. It should be understood that any orientation of the components described herein is within the scope of the present invention.

Generally, the present invention includes a waterslide 10 incorporating a sliding surface 14, a tunnel-like structure 16 and an end structure 18 that collects a pool of water 100 at the end of the sliding surface 14 and serves to stop a user at the end of the ride. In a preferred embodiment, the end structure 18 is U-shaped, however, this is not a limitation on the present invention. Water 100 is sprayed along the length of the sliding surface 14 by a sprinkler tube 20 that includes a plurality of water emitting holes therein. Anaglyphic/stereoscopic still images 22 a and 22 b are printed on various portions of the slide 10 so that when the child wears the chromatically opposite two-color goggles 12 the still images 22 a and 22 b appear three-dimensional (described in more detail below) thus providing an additional play pattern to the typical sliding scenario.

The tunnel 16 includes an interior 26 through which a user slides on a sliding path. In a preferred embodiment, the tunnel 16 has a length through which the user slides. However, in another embodiment, the tunnel 16 can be a flat surface, such as a board, with graphics printed thereon and that includes an interior/opening 26 through which a user slides. Preferably, the end structure 18 and tunnel 16 are inflatable. However, this is not a limitation on the present invention. In another embodiment, they may be non-inflatable. If inflatable structures are employed, those skilled in the art will readily understand how to construct the inflatable portions. In another embodiment, the tunnel can be omitted and the sliding surface 14 can include other obstacles for the user to encounter in the sliding path, each of which include anaglyphic images thereon.

In a preferred embodiment, portions of the waterslide 10, such as the sliding surface 14, tunnel-like structure 16 and/or U-shaped end structure 18 are imprinted with anaglyphic/stereoscopic still images 22 a and 22 b (the slide can also include other images that are not stereoscopic). In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the tunnel-like structure 16, which spans the width of the sliding surface 14, and which the user slides through, resembles a shark's mouth. However, this is not a limitation on the present invention. The tunnel can be other shapes and any anaglyphic image imprinted on the waterslide is within the scope of the invention. For example, the user could slide through other animal's mouths, a train tunnel, a factory, a house, food, a galaxy, a ballpark, any structure, etc.

In a preferred embodiment, the tunnel 16 includes flaps 24 that depend downwardly therefrom and block the path of an oncoming sliding user. The flaps 24 are preferably light enough that a sliding user will knock them out of the way when sliding through the tunnel 16. The inclusion of the flaps 24 provides an additional surface on which anaglyphic/stereoscopic images 22 a and 22 b can be included. In another embodiment, the flaps can be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to experience the three-dimensional effect or illusion of depth provided by the anaglyphic/stereoscopic images 22 a and 22 b, a user wears goggles 12 or other spectacles or eyewear. Stereoscopic viewing systems rely on presenting two slightly different views of a subject to each of a viewers' eyes. The anaglyph or anaglyphic image is a key element of such viewing systems. An anaglyph is a stereogram in which the two views of a subject are printed or projected, substantially superimposed, in complementary colors, usually red and blue or cyan. Transmission of the red view may be blocked using a red filter and the blue view can be blocked by blue filter. Placing one each of the appropriate filters in front of each eye results in each eye seeing only one of the two colored views. The filters are typically incorporated into spectacles (sometimes referred to herein as three dimensional goggles) so that when the anaglyph is viewed through the spectacles, an illusion of depth is produced because each eye is seeing elements of the subject from slightly different aspects. It will be understood that the two color method of presenting a stereoscopic image is only exemplary and not a limitation on the present invention. Other methods of providing a three dimensional effect to a user are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the basic principal of presenting two horizontally shifted views of the same subject to each eye of the viewers can be implemented in other ways, such as using polarizing filters or projecting alternating views of a subject and supplying the viewers with goggles or the like having synchronized shutters. With polarized filters in the three dimensional goggles, two synchronized images of two respective views, each with a different polarization, are presented. The goggles or glasses allow only one of the images into each eye because they contain lenses with different polarization. Accordingly, it will be understood that, as used herein, three dimensional goggles refers to any type of goggles, spectacles or device for viewing two horizontally shifted views of a stereoscopic image to provide a three dimensional effect to the user, whether two colored, polarized or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the goggles 12 can include a left eye piece and a right eye piece held together by an adjustable elastic strap and a nose bridge. Goggles 12 are illustrative of a type of eyewear that can be adapted for use as stereoscopic spectacles for use with anaglyphic images 22 a and 22 b. The left eye piece and right eye piece each include a different filter (e.g., they are tinted red or blue) and cooperate to operate as described above. Placing one each of the appropriate filters in front of each eye results in each eye seeing only one of the two colored views and thereby producing the three dimensional illusion desired. Therefore, when the user wears the two-color goggles 12 with each lens a chromatically opposite color (e.g., red and blue) the graphics 22 a and 22 b on the sliding surface 14, tunnel 16, and/or flaps 24 and appear three-dimensional and provide an added dimension where the graphics appear to come to life and in motion. In other words, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the user experiences the illusion of sliding into a shark's mouth.

In use, a user wearing the goggles 12 slides along the water covered sliding surface 14 along a sliding path “S”, for example, on his or her belly with legs raised from the surface and arms extended forward. As the user approaches the tunnel 16, the stereoscopic images 22 a and 22 b on the tunnel 16 and the flaps 24 hanging therefrom appear three-dimensional when viewed. The user contacts the flaps 24, thereby pushing them out of the way, and slides into and through the interior of the tunnel 16 and into the pool of water contained in the U-Shaped structure 18 at the end of the sliding surface 14 where he or she is stopped.

It will be understood that the waterslide 10 and goggles 12 can be provided or sold as a kit.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and elements described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions. 

1. A waterslide comprising: a sliding surface having a sliding path, and at least one object in the sliding path that includes a stereoscopic image thereon, wherein the stereoscopic image appears three-dimensional when viewed through a pair of three dimensional goggles.
 2. The waterslide of claim 1 further comprising a tunnel that spans at least a portion of the sliding surface, wherein the tunnel has an opening therein through which the sliding path extends, wherein the at least one object is a flap that hangs vertically from the tunnel.
 3. The waterslide of claim 2 wherein at least two flaps hang vertically from the tunnel, and wherein the tunnel and the at least two flaps each have stereoscopic images thereon.
 4. The waterslide of claim 3 wherein the tunnel is inflatable.
 5. The waterslide of claim 4 wherein the tunnel is shaped like an animal's mouth and the stereoscopic images appear to be a portion of the animal's mouth.
 6. The waterslide of claim 4 further comprising an inflatable structure at the end of the sliding surface for collecting a pool of water and stopping a user therein.
 7. The waterslide of claim 1 further comprising a sprinkler tube alongside the sliding surface for spraying water from a water source onto the sliding surface.
 8. A method comprising the steps of: a) providing a waterslide that includes a sliding surface having a sliding path, and at least one object in the sliding path that includes a stereoscopic image thereon, b) wearing a pair of three dimensional goggles, c) sliding on the sliding path toward the at least one object, and d) viewing the stereoscopic image through the three dimensional goggles, wherein the stereoscopic image appears three-dimensional.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the waterslide includes a tunnel that spans at least a portion of the sliding surface, wherein the tunnel has an opening therein through which the sliding path extends, wherein the at least one object is a flap that hangs vertically from the tunnel, and wherein the method includes the steps of contacting the flap and sliding through the tunnel.
 10. A kit comprising: a) a pair of three dimensional goggles, and b) a waterslide that includes: a sliding surface having a sliding path, an inflatable tunnel that spans the sliding path, wherein the tunnel includes an interior through which the sliding path extends, and wherein the tunnel includes a plurality of flaps that hang vertically from the tunnel and into the sliding path, wherein the tunnel and the flaps include stereoscopic images thereon, wherein the stereoscopic images appear three-dimensional when viewed through the pair of three dimensional goggles, a sprinkler tube associated with the sliding surface, wherein the sprinkler tube is adapted to spray water from a water source onto the sliding surface.
 11. The kit of claim 10 wherein the tunnel is shaped like an animal's mouth and the stereoscopic images appear to be a portion of the animal's mouth.
 12. The kit of claim 10 wherein the waterslide includes an inflatable structure at the end of the sliding surface for collecting a pool of water and stopping a user therein. 